During the City's annual budget review of Friendswood's city water and sewer rates for the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year, Friendswood created some great news. The City of Friendswood has a new plan to reduce sewer and water rates by 20 percent on the average water and sewer bill for the upcoming fiscal year.

 

Last year's water and sewer budget process saw a number of significant improvements. Such improvements range from the purchasing of surface water from the City of Houston, to rehabilitating two of Friendswood's water wells, to creating a one million gallon storage tank. The City also extended the water and sewer lines along FM 2351 to Beamer Road.

 

During the 2009 budget year Friendswood secured $2 million in grant funding for water/sewage improvements. Standard & Poor's gave Friendswood a significant boost by changing its rating of the city from A to AA-.  The rating comes from the high quality management of water and sewer utility and means the City will be able to issue debt at a much lower interest rate. Since the bond was delayed, Friendswood was able to sell it in a much more favorable market environment. All this gives more of a reason for Friendswood to be able to decrease rates.

 

The new rate reduction is currently planned for adoption in the 2010 City budget by the Friendswood City Council later this month. West Ranch residents should enjoy a much lighter water and sewage bill, and heavier wallets!